Root pruning/grinding

One of our important winter tasks is cleaning up the shallow tree roots on the golf course.  Shallow rooting trees like cottonwoods are very un-desirable species because their shallow roots compete with the turf roots for water and nutrients.  Cottonwoods are the worst, because their roots as so shallow

they come through the surface and cause damage to mowers as they cross over.  Many of our irrigation wires and pipes are too shallow so we cannot use a plow to sever the roots, but instead we use a small stump grinder to cut and grind the roots at the surface.








Cottonwood trees can have roots that go 150-200 ft out from the tree.

Cottonwood tree in the background

After grinding down about 6 inches, we fill the scar with sand a sand / seed mixture just like a divot.

Fertilizing

Now with the large irrigation project is down to a final punch list it is time to get on the course and start spreading spring fertilizer.  This is our time to increase the density of the turf that has seen a lot of winter traffic while it was dormant. Develop a healthy plant with a deep root system that will hold up to our 20+ days of 100 degrees, and improve the quality of our paying surface.  Everything we do in the next 2 1/2 months to improve the health of our turf sets up for  June, July, and August.

Fertilizing tees

We have fertilized tees, approaches, fairway spots, and rough spots this week, and greens will be fertilized next week in preparation of greens aerification the following week, April 16 and 17.